De-cluttering for Jesus

Today’s Gospel is a reminder to me that I have a strong desire to follow Jesus, but that I am not very good at doing so. It is cold comfort to know that I am not alone. Yet, I am comforted by the fact that we are all on a journey together, and the journey is a hopeful one. Don’t believe me? Come along, see what you think…
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As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.” He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
–Mark 10:17-22 (Full text for today’s readings here.)

Having many possessions is the American way, right? Work, earn, buy. I recently read an article, I wish I could remember where, about how the entire GDP formula that is used is flawed, because it is built upon a particular kind of consumption that is full of economic injustice. I’m no economist, but it made sense to me.

Very few of us can sell our possessions, as Jesus instructed, and follow him. That whole camel’s eye, needle business is a challenge, isn’t it? Don’t we want to make money and get stuff, go places? Let’s not kid ourselves, money is power and position, it is prestige. Who doesn’t want that?

Yet, am I supposed to be de-cluttering for Jesus?

I tell people that I live in Clifton Park and they often think of the ginormous 4000 square foot houses that cost $400,000 or more. Throwing back my head, I laugh very loudly, perhaps in an almost unseemly way. We live in a split level gem built in 1977, which has had almost nothing replaced or redone; it is a very retro 1400 square feet of living. This does not make me better, by the way. I still live in Clifton Park and my very unintentionally retro kitchen is some red badge of faith or courage. It is just what it is. Not being able to have a kitchen re-do is a very big first world problem if you ask me. If I am following Jesus, do I even need all that?

Once again, (like last weekend) I find myself feeling a bit prickly. Talk is very cheap, isn’t it? My own included. Yet, the pull of the Gospel is strong, the invitation of Jesus is powerful, so I continue to stick around, even with my possessions and I trying to fit through the eye of the needle.

The homily for this weekend (as nourishing as last Sunday’s) offered a beautiful vision of our journey and purgatory.*

DID YOU JUST SAY PURGATORY?

Yes, I did. Please – be patient. This ramble will come to an end and it might even make sense!

We were reminded that purgatory might not be so bad as we think. We come to God with our arms full, while Jesus is waiting to welcome us, His arms flung open wide on the Cross.

Our arms are full of our “possessions.” We might be holy and pious, with arms full of “things” like “I went to Mass every single Sunday!” Or “I fasted every Friday of my life!” Or whatever. Those are not bad things, but do we wield them like weapons of mass devotion?

Our arms may be full of our regrets. “I lied almost all the time.” Or “I always held some love back, never fully giving myself to anyone.” It could be truly horrible, like “I denied you God, I did.” Or what about, “I killed someone.” Whatever we bear, we tend hold them in front of us, like sad shields, protecting us from what God already knows.

Yet, God waits patiently, like someone intent on threading a needle, perhaps just saying, “let it go.” How can we go to God, if our arms are full?

What a vision of purgatory that is – suddenly not so harsh or mean, like that place where the flames of h-e-double hockey sticks only partially consumed us, the one I learned about as a kid.

So what is the point of this now-too-long-post? Are we supposed to get to heaven via a Craigslist blitz? Can we garage sale ourselves straight into the Kingdom? I doubt it. Maybe we need to think about all that we have, boxes of items and boxes of issues, and try to deal with it all along the way.

I don’t believe that I’m going away sad because of my many possessions, like our friend in the Gospel. I’m sticking around, stuff and all, trying to make sense of it along the way. I’ve got a lot more than possessions to be rid of if I’m going to get anywhere. Care to join me?

3 Responses

This is one of those instances when I take Scripture literally, but within historical context. When Jesus was present as human on this earth, there were no phones, social media, cars, trains, planes, radio, television, etc. Those outcasts that he ministered to were barred from the temple. It cost money to pay for the priests’ interventions with God. To reach the outcasts, He had to go to them, often far from the temple, out into the outskirts and the bad parts of town. There was only one way to get there, walk. Walk often a very far distance. This young man in Scripture had shown himself to be sincerely seeking God’s Blessings. Jesus preached that the Kingdom of God is at hand. He “looked on him with love” which I interpret to mean approval. He invited him to join them, to minister, to travel and heal and teach and cast out demons; but, this guy had a lot of stuff! They were gone for long periods of time, on foot. They had no choice if they were going to walk with Jesus, but to leave all behind. They couldn’t carry it. They also couldn’t take their families with them. This young man, called to walk with Christ couldn’t leave it all behind. Do I think that means that in this time we’re all required to leave our homes and families, give up all we own in order to live in fellowship with Christ? No. In Corinthians we’re told that not all are called to the same mission. Some are to teach, some to heal, some to prophesy, etc. I think there are certain people who are called by Christ to leave all behind, the priesthood comes to mind, but I don’t think that all are. When we are called to give all to the poor, I’d say that we’re called to give all of ourselves to God, but not necessarily are we called to don a pair of sandals and sackcloth and stand out on the street corner calling people to Christ (only if that’s what He asks of us). What I do believe wholeheartedly is that we are to praise God for the gifts that He gives us, take only what we truly need and share the rest with those less fortunate. But, nowhere, no how do I see this as a call or a commandment for each and every one of us to abandon spouses, children and home to follow Christ. That’s why each of us should practice discernment re. our vocations. And, that, is the “gospel according to Emma” 🙂 That is the Good News 🙂

Love the camel! Love the phrase ‘weapons of mass devotion’ Love that it’s not about us. It’s about God loving us so much he’s willing to wait for us to figure out how to let go of who we think we are and become who he made us to be.